Proposed mosque in Norwalk draws controversy

Nicole Rivard

Published 9:50 pm, Thursday, April 5, 2012

Umar Munshi, a graduate of Brien McMahon, stresses the importance of having a mosque in Norwalk to the young Muslim community at a public hearing to address a proposed mosque by the Al Madany Islamic Center of Norwalk.
Photo: Nicole Rivard/Staff Photographer

Umar Munshi, a graduate of Brien McMahon, stresses the importance...

John Fallon, attorney for the Al Madany Islamic Center in Norwalk, listens and takes notes as a teen from the Muslim community expresses support for the proposed mosque in Norwalk at a public hearing at City Hall in Norwalk Tuesday night.
Photo: Nicole Rivard/Staff Photographer

John Fallon, attorney for the Al Madany Islamic Center in Norwalk,...

A model of the proposed Al Madany Islamic Center mosque that would be located at 127 Fillow St.
Photo: Nicole Rivard/Staff Photographer

NORWALK -- Hundreds packed the City Hall concert hall Wednesday night for a contentious public hearing on a proposed mosque that drew emotional reactions from opponents and supporters.

The proposal submitted by the Al Madany Islamic Center was first submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission in the spring of 2010. It calls for a 27,000-square-foot building at 127 Fillow St. that would include a prayer hall, classrooms, community center, 80-foot minaret and 89 parking spaces on a 1.5-acre lot where a 159-year-old home now sits.

So many came out to speak Wednesday that commissioners continued the public hearing shortly after 11 p.m. to allow all those who signed up an opportunity to speak.

Isabelle Harqgrove lives in the neighborhood and opposed the proposal saying it would "fundamentally alter the character of this quiet, New England neighborhood."

Harqgrove said the neighborhood is already home to the city's golf course, two schools and two condominium complexes and the proposed mosque would further increase traffic. Harqgrove is a member of "Keep 127 Fillow Street Residential," a grass-roots group of residents that has hired a lawyer to oppose the mosque.

"They are building a facility that can house a 1,000 people. Eventually 1,000 people will come," Harqgrove told the commission reviewing the proposal. "They are building a community center, library. It's not just something people will use two hours a week. Their schedule of religious practices unfortunately coincides with times that kids in the area are out and about. They are getting in and out of school."

A similar mosque proposal was suddenly withdrawn prior to a public hearing in 2010 around the same time a national debate over a planned Islamic center near the World Trade Center site was raging. At the time, Al Madany officials said they were concerned about undertones of religious intolerance over their proposal.

On Wednesday, those who spoke against the plan were careful to note that their opposition was not based on religious differences.

Al Madany was founded in Norwalk in 1999 and serves over 100 families. The families have been worshipping in a private residence, but feeling that they were outgrowing the space, the congregation purchased the 127 Fillow St. property in 2008.

"Growing up I lived in Long Island. There was a mosque there. It was a centralized institution for Islamic education," Munshi said. "As a young Muslim it's important to have a unified view and learn the values of Islam. People have been saying, `If you build it they will come.' They will come to get education. Does anybody think of that?"

John Fallon, attorney for Al Madany said, since the original application was filed, the plan has been modified to address some 41 items that the commissioners were concerned about, including traffic congestion.

"I absolutely understand that this community of people wants to build a place of worship and a place to have a sense of community, and they want to do it for themselves and their children," Harqgrove said. "They have to appreciate that we have a community as well. We want our children and grandchildren to live, reside and continue with the feeling of the neighborhood we have today."

Showing a model of the mosque and a computer simulation, Fallon said the proposal shifted the location of the driveway and has conducted traffic studies that concluded no adverse impact. The proposal also calls for maintaining the historic farmhouse on the property.

Michael Galante conducted the traffic study and said a typical Friday afternoon prayer service would yield 50 cars and bring 100 people to the mosque. Commissioners were concerned about parking to accommodate worshippers who wish to attend high holiday services. The two main holidays in the Muslim faith are Eid al-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr.

Fallon said the congregation would hold two services on holidays to alleviate traffic and hire a police officer to conduct traffic. Another house of worship also offered Al Madany 20 of its parking spaces, and shuttles could be provided to Al Madany.

Rabbi Jon Fish of Congregation Beth El supports the mosque proposal and said the concerns over traffic and parking are nothing new.

"We all have problems with parking and space," Fish said. "It's clear that the people who are concerned for their neighborhood are also good Americans, who also care a great deal about the diversity of our community. No one should be cast as a bigot, and yet I think it is important for all of us to find a way to reach out to one another and to ensure that our community continues to grow."

Stepping Stone Road resident Brian Dough said he sees the traffic first-hand every morning when he has trouble pulling onto Fillow Street.

"It's busy, busy, busy," Dough said. "Now maybe I am dumb or naïve, but I think there will be quite a few more people coming to this place in time or right away. I don't want to live near a Wal-Mart or a 27,000 square-foot building and I don't think anyone in the neighborhood does. There's no more room and this is huge. Once they build it, they will come. And you can't stop it once it's up. There will be cars all over the street."

Harqgrove was one of some 30 people who signed up to speak at the public hearing. Due to time contraints, the public hearing will continue next Wednesday evening.